RIYADH Sept 15, 2026 — Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense issued danger warning alerts in several southern cities late Monday and early Tuesday after Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks, officials and regional reports said.
The alerts covered Najran, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Abha — areas near the Yemeni border that have come under repeated fire in recent days. Authorities later lifted some of the warnings after declaring the immediate threat had passed, a pattern seen throughout the latest flare-up.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group fired dozens of missiles and drones at King Khalid Air Base in Khamis Mushait, targeting hangars, radar systems, runways and ammunition depots. The strikes were described as retaliation for Saudi-led airstrikes inside Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition reported that 13 civilians were wounded in the latest incidents.
The latest attacks form part of a sharp escalation that began earlier this month. On September 8, Houthi strikes on civilian and energy sites in the same four cities wounded 73 people, including women and children, and caused fires that temporarily disrupted operations at energy facilities, including the Jazan refinery.
A separate projectile strike on September 13 in Jazan’s Al-Tuwal governorate injured two people and damaged a mosque, buildings and vehicles.
The violence coincides with a Houthi ground offensive along Yemen’s Red Sea coast. The group has captured the port of Mocha, nearby towns and islands including Perim at the mouth of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, tightening its hold on a key shipping route. Yemeni officials said Saudi and government air forces have intensified bombardment of Houthi positions in response, but the rebels have retained control of most of the western coastline.
The fighting has raised concerns about energy supplies. An earlier attack knocked Saudi Arabia’s east-west oil pipeline offline, and traders have warned that prolonged disruptions combined with pressure on Red Sea and Hormuz routes could affect a significant share of global oil flows. Gulf states postponed planned talks with Iran amid the heightened tensions.
Saudi officials have condemned the attacks as a violation of sovereignty and said the kingdom will take necessary measures to defend itself while continuing to support diplomatic efforts. Regional organizations including the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation have expressed solidarity with Riyadh. The UN has warned that the renewed fighting risks widening the conflict and undermining any path back to a political settlement in Yemen.
Residents in the affected cities have been instructed to stay indoors, avoid open areas and follow official channels during alerts issued through Saudi Arabia’s National Early Warning Platform.
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